Bishops of Council of Churches in East Asia Meet in Seoul, South Korea, for Mission-Focused Gathering

The Diocese of Seoul in the Anglican Church of Korea hosted the bishops’ meeting of the Council of Churches in East Asia (CCEA) from 15 to 19 October. This annual gathering brings together church leaders from Anglican traditions across East Asia, with member churches rotating the host role. This year’s meeting included bishops’ spouses, reflecting a growing emphasis on the role of families in church life.

The event took place under the theme, ‘Seeds of the Gospel: Mission in East Asia,’ drawn from the parable of the mustard seed in Matthew 13:32. Bishops attended from the Church of the Province of South East Asia, Nippon Sei Ko Kai (the Anglican Church of Japan), the Diocese of Taiwan (The Episcopal Church), Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (Anglican Church of Hong Kong), the Episcopal Church in the Philippines, the Church in the Province of Myanmar, and associate participants from the Anglican Church of Australia and Iglesia Filipina Independiente.

The Most Revd Elijah Jang-Whan Kim, Bishop of Seoul and Primate of the Anglican Church of Korea, described the meeting as ‘very precious.’ He emphasized the ‘unbroken bond of affection as a family’ among the bishops, despite theological differences. Kim expressed hope that the gathering would foster respect for diversity while uniting the churches in a shared mission within East Asia.

The Most Revd Dr Titus Chung, Chair of CCEA and Bishop of Singapore, highlighted the strengthening of relationships through both formal and informal interactions. He noted that shared meals and conversations during travel helped deepen understanding of each other’s ministries. Chung affirmed that differences do not hinder discipleship, and that the group is striving to embody Christ-like qualities in their work.

The Rt Revd Dr Jo Wells, Deputy Secretary General and Bishop for Episcopal Ministry in the Anglican Communion, attended the meeting and was invited by the primate to preach at Seoul Cathedral. Her presence underscored the importance of collaboration and mutual support among Anglican leaders in the region. The meeting concluded with renewed commitments to mission and unity in the face of ongoing challenges.

Source: Read the original report